This Fan-Made 'Dragon Ball Z' Pilot Is Way Better Than Anything Hollywood Could Have Done

Just days ago, we got our first look at a "fucking dark" remake of Power Rangers featuring James Van Der Beek. And now the Internet is already being treated to another intense live-action remake of another beloved '90s show: Dragon Ball Z.

Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope is an unapologetic work of passion that was pulled together by a group of dedicated fans, while still trumping Hollywood's failed multimillion-dollar swing at the series.

A childhood callback. Just like the gritty Power Rangers reboot that hit the Internet earlier this week, this Dragon Ball Z remake hits all the right notes of accuracy to the canon, while also evolving into something the series' many now-adult fans can enjoy.

What's most impressive, however, is that, while Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope doesn't have a one-man crew, the production team appears very small, especially in comparison to what you'd find on a Hollywood set from a movie with a $30 million budget. Yet even with a minuscule crew and budget, this fan remake is already looking streets ahead of Dragon Ball Evolution, 2009's whitewashed take on the series that currently holds a 14% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the critical consensus: "Executed with little panache or invention, Dragonball Evolution lacks the magic that made the books upon which it was based a cult sensation."

Clearly, unlike that Hollywood monstrosity, Dragon Ball Z: Lightof Hope draws its inspiration from a different source: the fans.

For fans, by fans. "Dragon Ball Z: Lightof Hope is a nonprofit, live-action Dragon Ball Z Web series," the video's creators write on its YouTube page. "It's made by fans, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official license holders."

The pilot episode is the only one released so far, and it's likely the only one that will be made, but it should give fans a taste of what this crew can do. It also proves that this team is dedicated to making something even the most die-hard Dragon Ball fans can enjoy.

Robot Underdog, which describes itself as "a small team of creatives who live and breathe to make anime, sci-fi, action, superhero and video game-inspired live-action videos," is currently soliciting crowdfunded donations to make a second installment, and eventually a third, fourth and so on, turning this into a series based on the "The History of Trunks" TV Special.

Though Dragon Ball Z: Lightof Hope might not look as perfectly clean-cut as something you'd see coming out of a Hollywood studio, the clear passion and enjoyment behind this project makes it way more fun to watch.